Sirens to sound during Purdue tornado warning drill March 20

March 13, 2014

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - As part of Indiana's Severe Weather Preparedness Week, Purdue University's Office of Emergency Preparedness and Planning will coordinate a campus-wide tornado drill on March 20.

Multiple warning systems will be activated at 10:15 a.m. The systems that will be activated include the All Hazard Outdoor Warning Sirens (intended to warn those outdoors only), text message and the Boiler TV Emergency Alerting System layers of the Purdue Alert notification system.

The All Hazard Outdoor Warning Sirens will sound again at 7:35 p.m. without the use of the text-messaging alert. If there is inclement weather, the drill will be canceled.

While most students will be off campus for spring break when the drills occur, faculty are encouraged to discuss shelter-in-place procedures when classes resume.

Building deputies and other building leaders are encouraged to take this opportunity to practice their building emergency plans by organizing a shelter-in-place drill. This will help ensure that building occupants know what to do in an emergency; that there is adequate space in shelter-in-place locations; and that weather radios, computers and other communication devices are functioning properly.

Purdue is located in the county with the highest number of tornado touchdowns in the state, so even if a tornado warning shelter-in-place drill is not possible, building occupants should take a few minutes to review their building emergency plan. Building deputies should familiarize themselves with their building's shelter-in-place locations and review the Severe Weather Tornadoes and Thunderstorm procedures published by Environmental Health and Public Safety.

Individual consultations will be offered for those interested in organizing a shelter-in-place drill for their buildings. For questions on the tornado drill or for help organizing a shelter-in-place drill for your building, contact Ron Wright, director of university emergency preparedness and planning, at rdwright@purdue.edu or 765-494-0446.

Additionally, three free tornado awareness workshops will be offered from 1:30-2:30 p.m. March 26, April 2 and April 9, at the TERRY Conference Room at the Purdue Police Department, 205 S. Martin Jischke Drive. To register, contact Mary Stair at 4-1424. Direct questions to Ron Wright, director of university emergency preparedness, or Tom Cooper, tncooper@purdue.edu